Method and machine for wrapping tensioned wire about a container



Jan. 18, 1966 K, VQGT METHOD AND MACHINE FOR WRAPPING TENSIONED WIRE ABOUT A CONTAINER 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 18, 1965 INVENTOR Imm umm Jan. 18, 1966 K. VOGT METHOD AND MACHINE FOR WRAP NG TENSIONED WIRE ABOUT A com ER Filed March 18, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 [N VEN TOR. Km vo;

B Y @7W ammw A TTORNE Y Jan. 18, 1966 K. voGT 3,229,924

METHOD AND MACHINE FOR WRAPPING TENSIONED WIRE ABOUT A CONTAINER Filed March 18, 1963 3 Sheets-Shee'll 3 /4 30 34 3/ 35a 6o 35C 65 35 356 35 so 34 Fig.6

6 6P JNVENTOR. 30 1% 63 Kuit A TTORNEY United States Patent O 3229,924 MErHoD AND MACHINE Fon WRAPPING TENSIONED WIRE ABOUT A CONTAINER Kurt Vogt, Beinwil am See, Switzerland, assignor to Proceq S.A., Zurich, Switzerland, a corporation of Switzerland Filed Mar. 18, 1963, Ser. No. 265,984 Claims. (Cl. 242-7) The present invention has reference to an improved method and apparatus for Wrapping tie means, such as a wire or cable about relatively rigid objects and, in particular, for wrapping vessels or containers such as concrete containers.

It is known to the art to Wrap or Wind a steel wire which is under a tensile stress about the walls of concrete vessels or containers, preferably of circular cross-section, which containers during service are subjected to an internal pressure, so that a tangential compressive stress is produced in the concrete. In known winding or wrapping machines by means of which such concrete containers are Wrapped, a frame circles around the container, wherein a drive member arranged on the frame rolls or rides on an endless transport member wound about the container, whereby a wire unwinding from a winding pulley or sheave is wound or coiled about the container. The wire is thus unwound from a supply spool or drum arranged on the frame, and is delivered to the Winding pulley through the agency of guide pulleys and guide tubes, the latter of which are likewise arranged on the frame. In order to achieve a predetermined wrapping wire tension with these known machines, the winding pulley is positively connected through the agency of a slip clutch with the drive member. Such type Lof Wire wrapping machine for containers is disclosed in applicants U.S. Patent 2,785,866, issued March 19, 1957, entitled, Machine for Wrapping Concrete Containers With Wire.

A disadvantage with such type of machine resides in the fact that, by virtue of the stretching of the Wire due to the wire tension, the wire payed-oit the winding pulleysaid Wire generally being wound about the winding pulley several times-experiences a relative movement with respect to the winding pulley resulting in a rubbing effect causing a very pronounced abrasion or scuing of said winding pulley. A further disadvantage resides in the fact that, there results a relative movement between the drive member and the winding pulley when the wire tension is exceeded, which causes a pronounced heating of the slip surface of the slip clutch. Such generally necessitates a cooling of such slip surface in order to maintain its Wear and tear within economical limits. Additionally, as a result of such Wear and tear, the slip or slide torque vof the slip coupling must be continually regulated and readjusted.

In contrast thereto, the Wrapping machine designed according to the teachings of the present invention is characterized by the fact that, the drive member and winding member are rigidly connected with one another. Furthermore, the winding means or member includes a plurality of peripherally arranged, circularly or angularly spaced, operative clamping means for grasping the wire to be wound about the container at .a plurality of spaced locations. These clamping means are constructed to be independently operative with respect to one another, and which during the rotational movement of the winding member are actuatable by operable actuating and control means.

More specically, a preferred form of machine for winding a wire about a container according to the invention comprises a carriage, drive means for rotating said carriage about said container, a supply source for said 3,229,924 Patented Jan. 18, 1966 lCe wire, and winding means for winding said Wire from said supply source about said container. The drive means includes an endless transport member adapted to extend about the container and a drive member engageable with said endless transport member to displace the carriage together with the winding means about said container.

The ratio of the diameter of the drive member for the endless transport member with respect to the Winding means is so chosen as to ensure for a given period of time a predetermined difference between the travel of the drive member about the container and the length of wire as measured in its untensioned state wound about the container as the drive member travels about said container, whereby said wire will be applied to said container under predetermined tension. Control means operable with said clamping means periodically open and close the latter as said wire passes the winding means for Winding onto said container. The clamping means serve to gradually apply the desired tension to a length of wire collectively grasped by the operating clamping means, with said wire length approximately being defined by a rst location where it is seized by a clamp member and a second location where said clamp member releases said wire. Additionally, height-adjusting means for the winding means are provided in order to control and vary the pitch of the coils of the wire Wound onto the container.

The method of winding a wire and the like about a container according to the invention generally comprises the steps of: securing one end of a supply of wire supported on a winding apparatus to the container to be Wound with such wire, displacing said winding apparatus for movement about said container to continuously draw-off said wire from said Wire supply, controlling the length of the displacement path of said winding apparatus about said container relative to the length of Wire drawn-off `of said wire supply and applied to said container, such that said length of wire applied to said container as measured in its untensioned state is somewhat less than the displaced path of said winding apparatus, to thereby apply a predetermined tension to said wire being wound about said container, clamping said Wire at a plurality of spaced locations forwardly of the point of contact of said wire with said container, as such wire moves between an initial point of clamping and a point of release of said clamping, to thereby gradually increase the tension in the length of wire between said clamp and release points up to or approximately to the desired tension with which the wire is to be wound onto said container.

Accordingly, it is an important object of the present invention to provide an improved method and apparatus for Wrapping wire or other suitable tie means about a container .or other object in a relatively simple and reliable manner.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide an improved method and apparatus for Wrapping wire about objects, such as vessels and containers, permitting for gradual tensioning of the wire during wrapping thereof.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide an improved apparatus for tying a wire, cable or other reinforcement means about containers, which comprises means for wrapping the wire about the container including means for incrementally applying wire tension to predetermined lengths of such wire as each such predetermined Wire lengths moves between a first location where it is clamped and is in practically tensionless condition, to a second location where such predetermined wire length is unclamped prior to application onto the container.

Another object is the provision of an improved method for wrapping reinforcing tie means to an object, such that said tie means do not cause substantial rubbing or scuthng of the surface of a wrapping device.

Still further objects and the entire scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter; it should be understood, however, that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and moditications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.

In the drawings:

FIGURE l illustrates a wire wrapping machine designed according to the present invention and arranged on the container to be wrapped;

FIGURE 2 illustrates an enlarged detail of the wire wrapping machine depicted in FIGURE l;

FIGURES schematically illustratesra fragmentary, sectional plan view of the wire winding devices;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged, cross-sectional view, taken along lines IV-IV of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 4a is an enlarged, fragmentary sectional view showing details of a clamping means used in the inventive device;

FIGURE 5 is another embodiment of the invention, illustrating details of a modified form of the wire winding means;

FIGURE 6 illustrates a modified form of clamp employing cylinder and piston arrangement to control the wire tension.

Referring now to the drawings and, more particularly, to FIGURES l-4, it will be recognized that a Wheeled chassis or carriage unit 2 is arranged on a concrete container or vessel 1. The carriage unit 2 is provided with a roller 3 which rides on the upper peripheral edge of the container 1, a roller 4 which rides on the inner wall of the container 1, as well as a roller 5 that rides on the outer wall of the container 1. By means of these rollers the entire carriage unit 2 can revolve or circle about the periphery of the container 1. In order to facilitate revolving of the wheeled chassis 2 about the container 1 a suitable arm member (not shown) pivotable about approximately the center line of the container may be provided, in a manner taught in applicants U.S. Patent 2,785,866 previously mentioned. A drive motor 6 is arranged on the carriage unit 2, by means of which an axially displaceable shaft 7 can be driven through the agency of a suitable transmission or gear unit of conventional construction, and for this reason not further illustrated. Additionally, a cable winch 8 supported by the carriage unit 2 is engageably driven by the drive motor 6 through the inter.- mediary of a further suitable transmission or gear unit of standard construction (not shown). A winding unit is suspended on a winding rope or cable 9 provided for the cable Winch 8.

As best ascertained by briey referring to FIGURE 4, it will be recognized that the winding unit 10 includes a platform to which the shaft member 7 is rotatably mounted, said shaft member being secured at one end to said platform by an end plate or stop 70. The shaft member 7 may preferably be of square cross-section, as shown in FIGURE 2. The cable winch 8 forms height-adjusting means which enables the Winding unit 10 to be elevationally adjusted parallel to the external container wall 1b, in order to wind a wrapping wire 30 or other suitable tie means, with predetermined spacing or pitch between the wound coils, onto the external or outer wall 1b of the container 1. A pair of wheel members 11 and 12, carried by the platform 15 at the end 15a confronting the outer wall 1b of the container 1, serves to brace the winding unit 10 against said outer wall of said container, in a manner best seen by referring to FIGURE 2. The motive drive for thecable winch 8, when decoupled from the drive motor 6, can also take place by means of a handoperated crank for example.

As shown in FIGURE 2, in order to produce a rotational movement of the carriage unit 2 about the concrete container 1, there is provided a suitable transport member, such as an endless chain 13 which is slung about the outer wall 1b of said concrete container. A drive member in the form of a sprocket wheel 14 engages with pulley box 16, as well Vas being guided about a tensioning sprocket wheel 17. The tensioning sprocketwheel 17 is rotatably mounted upon a lever member 20 which, in turn,

is pivotably supported at its one end 20a about a pivot shaft 21 arranged upon the platform 15, whereas the other end 20b of the lever member 20 is articulated to an oper-` ating or push rod 22. This push rod 22 displaceably bears against the force of a coil spring 23. In this manner, it is possible to properly tension the endless transport chain 13 about the container 1.

By further referring to FIGURE 4, it will be recognized that a wire or cable winding device or means 24 is provided for the drive mem-.ber or sprocket wheel 14.

The winding device 24 enables a wire, cable or other-` suitable tie means 30 to be Wound or coiled about thel container 1, as will be more fully described hereinafter. In order to guide the wire 30 `to the winding device 24 there is provided on the carriage `unit 2 a wire `supply source in the form of a pay-off or supply drum 25 which travels around the container 1 together with said carriage unit. If it is desired to relieve the carriage unit 2 of some of its weight, the supply drum 25 could conceivably be arranged elsewhere, as for example on the rotating arm pivotable about the longitudinal axis of the container. guided downwardly over a guide roller 26 and, then, via a guide tube 28 arranged on the platform 15, is conducted to the winding device 24.

As illustrated in FIGURES 3 `and 4, on the bottom face of the Asprocketwheel 14 there are arranged a number of clamping means or segments 31 which are positively connected with and uniformly, angularly distributed about the periphery of said sprocket Wheel. In the illustrated example of FIGURE 3, eight such clamping segments 31 have been shown, by means of which the wire 30' is engaged, and which serve to gradually apply the desired tension -to the wire 30. Each of these clamping segments 31 of the wire winding means 24 is displaceably mountedupon a guide rail member 32 (FIGURE 4), secured by fastening means 32a to the underface of the sprocket wheel 14 in the peripheral direction of said sprocket wheel. These clamping Isegments 31 are displaceably mounted to move against the force of spring members 33, connected at one of their respective ends to an associated clamping segment 31 and with their other end bear against a stop member 34. It will .be appreciated that one such stop,member 34 is always arranged between two adjacent clamping segments 31. These stop members 34 are likewise located at the `periphery of the sprocket wheel 14.

As FIGURE 4 more clearly shows in detail, each clamp 1 means or segment 31 comprises an upper clamp jaw 35 displaceably connected via member 3211` to the rail member 32, as Well as being further provided with a lower clamp jaw 36. The lower clamp jaw 36 is pivotably mounted on the upper clamp jaw 35 about a pivot bolt 37. By now briey referring to the embodiment of FIG- URE 5, which employs a similarly constructed clamp segment 31, it will be seen that the lower clamp jaw '36` is disposed in a slot 35C formed between end portions 35a, 35b of the upper clamp jaw 35. The pivoting of the lower clamp jaw 36 in its opening direction is carried The wire 30 paid-off the supply drum 25 isi out by the rotational movement of the sprocket Wheel 14, through the agency of a cam Ifollower or roller member 38 rotatably arranged at the inner end 36a of the lower clamp jaw 36. This cam follower or roller member 38, during a predetermined angular position of the winding device 24 or the sprocket wheel 14, rides upon an ascending, inclined cam surface 39 of a control cam or disk 40 rigidly arranged on the platform 15. Such movement of the cam follower 38 causes pivoting of the lower clamp jaw 36 about its pivot bolt 37 such that the outer or free end 3617 of the clamp jaw 36 is downwardly displaced into its open position.

The pivotable movement of the lower clamp jaw 36 occurs against the action of a bolt member 41 displaceably mounted in the upper clamp jaw 35. This bolt member 41 freely extends through slot means 41e of sprocket wheel 14 and is normally downwardly displaced under the action of a coil spring 42 and, thus, normally eiects a closing movement of the lower clamp jaw 36. The displacement of the lower clamp jaw 36 into its closing position occurs during a predetermined angular position of the winding device 24 or the sprocket wheel 14, corresponding to the riding or rolling-0E of the cam follower 38 from -a descending, inclined cam surface 39a provided on the control cam or disk 40. Due to such, the lbolt member 41 presses the lower clamp jaw 36 against the upper cla-mp jaw 35, with the result that the wire 30 is securely clamped between the respective clamp jaws 35, 36 during the wire wrapping operation. Of course, it would also be possible to operatively connect the winding means 24 with the shaft 7 through the intermediary of a separate plate member, rather than directly with the sprocket wheel 14. It is merely important that normally no relative rotational movement exists between the sprocket wheel 14 and the winding device 24, with the clamping segments 31 only then shifting when the desired wire tension is exceeded.

It it is now assumed that the winding machine is in operation such that the winding device 24 (FIGURE 3) turns in clockwise direction with the motor driven shaft 7, then the wire or like tie means 36* disposed adjacent the periphery at the sprocket chain 14 and clamped by a portion of the clamping segments 31 is, on the one hand, drawn-cfr" of the supply drum 25 and, on the other hand, by circling about the concrete container 1 is wrapped or coiled about the latter. Consequently, it is important that the diameter of the winding device 24 or, more specifically, the diameter deiined by the clamping portions of the clamp segments 31 be smaller than the pitch diameter of the sprocket wheel 14, whereby the development path of the sprocket Wheel 14 on the chain 13 is larger Ithan the non-tensioned wire length which is simultaneously wonnd-ott of the winding device 24. In other words, if, for instance, the sprocket wheel 14 performs one revolution, its rolling travel on the chain 13 is greater than the length of the Wire 30 as measured in its untensioned state unwound in the same length of time from the winding device 24 and wound about the container 1. This has the effect that the wire 30 between the winding device 24 and the wall 1b of the container 1 is tensioned.

In order to take up this predetermined wire tension, the clamp segments 31 are individually adjustable by varying the loading or tension of the spring members 33 (FIGURE 3). Such can, for example, be achieved b-y suitable adjusting means provided -for the spring members to vary the loading thereof, or else, by replacing such spring members with others exerting the desired force-applying effect. One such possible form of spring load adjusting means is described in the embodiment of FIGURE 5, to be discussed hereinafter. Additionally, the spring members 42 are so adjusted via plate member 41a and bolt means 4lb that the wire 30, with closed clamp jaws 35 and 36, does not slip or slide between said clamp jaws, whereby on the one hand, a slipping of the wire between the upper and lower clamp jaws 35, 36 is prevented and, on the other hand, with increase of the tension of the wire 30 `the clamp segments 31 are moved in the direction of rotation on the rail members 32 against the force of the spring members 33. Consequently, the wire tension cannot increase any further than the adjustable preset spring members 33 permit. As a result, the wire tension can be maintained substantially within desired limits, as will more :fully be explained shortly hereinafter.

In FIGURE 5, wherein like reference numerals denote similar elements, there is illustrated a preferred arrangement of a clamping segment 31 provided with stop means 34 and spring member 33 for absorbing the previously mentioned wire tension. The coil spring 33 is eifective upon the free arm 61a of an angle lever 61 which is pivotably mounted about a pivot shaft 66. The other arm 61b of the .angle lever 61 bears against the clamping means or segment 31 and presses the latter with a predetermined force, dependent upon the loading or tension of the spring member 33', against the stop member 34. The force-applying eect of the spring 33 can, for example, be adjusted by axially displacing the collar member 70 along the support shaft 71. The pivot shaft 66 of each clamping segment 31 is supported by a respective fork member 67, each 0f the latter of which are arranged upon one of the stop members 34. In this embodiment, the wire 31 is clamped between the clam-ping jaws 35 and 36. If, now, the force acting upon the wire 30 in the direction tof the arrow 62 becomes greater than the force acting upon the clamp segment 31 through the agency of the angle lever 61, then the clamp segment 31 is moved in the direction of rotation denoted by arrow 62, in a manner as has already been previously described.

As previously mentioned, to achieve the desired wire tension it is important that the diameter of the winding device 24, specically the diameter formed by the operative clamping portions of the clamp segments 31 be smaller than the pitch diameter of the sprocket wheel 14. In the embodiments of FIGURES 4 and 5, in order to achieve a definite diameter of the winding device 24, impact plates 60 are provided, and against which the wire 30 rests at the `periphery of the winding device 24. The impact plates 60 are located at the stop members 34 at the locations where the wire 30 passes through said stop members (FIGURE 3) and at the clamp jaws 35. By underlaying the impact plates 60 with supporting disks 63, advantageously in the form of plate-like inserts such as best shown in FIGURE 4 and also FIGURE 4a, the impact plates 60 can be radially displaced, whereby the diameter of the winding device 24, and therewith, also the predetermined wire tension, can be varied within specific limits.

As previously explained, the opening and closing of the clamp segments 31 automatically results as a function of the rotational movement of the clamping segments 31 and by virtue of the up and down riding of the cam followers or roller members 38, arranged on the respective lower clamp jaws 36, upon the ascending and descending cam surfaces 39 and 39a, respectively, of the stationary control cam or disk 40. As FIGURE 3 clearly shows, the wire 30 is tangentially brought at contact point A onto the winding device 24 in its direction of rotation. It will -be recognized that the contact point A at the imaginary peripheral circle formed by the rotating clamp jaws 35, 36 or by the wire impact plates 60, in the direction of rotation, lies behind the descending cam surface 39a of the control disc 40, so that each respective clamping segment 31 which rotatably moves past contact point A igrasps the wire 30 between its open clamp jaws 35, 36, and upon passing the descending surface 39a clam-pingly engages the wire. In this mannner, there results a gradual `increase in the tension of the length of wire which rests against the 7 periphery of the winding device 24 in that, namely, each wire engaging `clamp segment 31 after the contact point A gradually applies an increased tension to the wire 30, and by means of which the total desired tension is .gradually applied to the wire by the still operating clamp segments.

Should the wire tension increase then the clamp segments 31 move in the direction of rotation against the force of their associated spring members 33, as has already been clearly discussed hereinabove. The clamping jaws 35, A36 of the clamping segments 31 now remain in cl-osed position until they approximately arrive at the point B, which is the contact point of the tangent of the wire with respect to the winding device 24 as such wire is tangentially guided from the winding device 24 onto the outer wall 1b of the concrete container. Shortly before reaching the contact point B the rollers 38 ride onto the ascending inclined surface 39 of the control cam 40, whereby the wire 30 is released and the corresponding clamp segment is pressed back into its starting position by the spring member 33. i

It should thus -be appreciated that the tension in the wire 30 is periodically increased in a gradual manner as such wire moves between the contact point A, adjacent which such wire is initially clamped by a clamping segment 31, until it reaches contact point B` when it is released by the clamping segment 31 for winding onto the container 1. Thus, approximatelythe length of wire located between the contact points A and B has tension progressively applied to it, as the wire moves between said contact points A and B. In order to ensure for a positive engagement of the wire 30 by the clamping jaws 35, 36, said clamping jaws may preferably be provided with hard, slightly roughened, plate members 65 or other suitable frictional engaging means.

In the described embodiments of FIGURES 1 5 spring members 33, 33' were employed with each clamp segment 31. In such an arrangement, 4it is advantageous to use springs possessing a very liat spring characteristic so that the force in the wire and in each wire segment can lbe maintained substantially within desired limits. If, however, it is desired to maintain the force in the wire and each wire segment at an exact predetermined value, then provision must be made to prevent the slight load increases beyond said value inherent in the use of springs. Such a possible arrangement is disclosed in FIGURE 6.

IIn the embodiment of FIGURE 6 each of the springs 33 or 33' are replaced by a cylinder 100 and piston 101 arrangement. The cylinder is supported in appropriate manner on a stop member 34'. The piston member 101 is adapted to reciprocate in the cylinder 100. The piston rod 104 of the piston 101 is operably connected to an kassociated clamp segment 31. k A pump P feeds a suitable medium, such as oil for example, to the cylinder `100 via a conduit 105 and pressure relief valve 106. The pressure of oil initially supplied to the cylinder 100 is 'so selected that a predetermined pressure within the cylinder 100 corresponding to the setting of pressure valve 106 is reached. When the piston 101 is displaced due to the loading of the wire engaged by clamp 31', then the oil in the cylinder 100 will permit further piston displacement o nly with a corresponding opening of the preset pressure relief valve 106, to allow for escape of oil from the cylinder 100. In this manner, the increase in tension of the wire from one clamp segment to the next cannot exceed a value corresponding to the value at which the pressure relief valve 106 is opened by the oil pressure within cylinder 100. As such, it is possible to ensure that the wire tension will not exceed a maximum permissible value. Naturally, other wire-tension overload arrangements are conceivable and numerous modifications of the illustrated cylinder and pistonarrangement are of course possible and will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

Having thus described the present invention, what is 8 desired to be secured by United States Letters Patent is:l 1. Machine for winding a wire about a container, comprising a supply source for said wire, winding means for winding said wire from said supply source about said container, drive means cooperating with said winding means including an endless transport member adapted to extend about said container and a drive member engageable with said endless transport member to displace said `winding means about said container, said winding means including a plurality of independently operable clamping means for engaging said wire at spaced locations, control means operable with said clamping means including means for periodically opening and means for periodically closing each of said clamping means as said wire passes said winding means for winding onto said container.

2. Machine for winding a wire and like tie lmeans about a relatively rigid object, particularly for wrapping a container, comprising a carriage, drive means for revolving said carriage about said container, a supply source for said wire, winding means for winding said wire from said supply source about said container, said drive means including an endless transport member adapted to extend about said container and a drive member engageable with said endless transport member to displace said winding means about said container, said winding means including a plul tainer, comprising a carriage, drive means for revolving said carriage about said container, a supply source for said Wire, winding means for winding said wire from said supply source about said container, said drive means including an endless transport member adapted to extend about said container and a drive member engageable with said endless transport member to displace said winding means about said container, said winding means and said drive member being positively connected with respect to one anothers said winding means including a plurality of independently operable clamping means for engaging said wire at spaced locations, control means operable with each of said clamping means, said control means including means for periodically opening and means for periodically closing said clamping means as said wire passes said winding means for winding onto said container.

4. Machine for winding a wire and like tie -means about a relatively rigid object, particularly for wrapping a container according to claim 3grwherein each of said clamping means includes a pair of clamp jaws, means mounting at least one of the jaws of a pair for pivotal movement into an open position, said means for opening said clamping means including a cam follower operatively connected with each pivotal clamp jaw and cooperating with said control means to pivot said pivotal clamp `jaw into its open position.

5. Machine for winding a wire and like tie means about a relatively rigid object, particularly for wrapping a container according to claim 4; wherein said control.

means includes a stationary control cam having an ascending inclined cam surface providing said means for opening said clamping means and a descending inclined cam surface providing a part of said means for closing said clamping means.

6. Machine for winding a wire and like tie means about a relatively rigid object, particularly for wrapping a container according to claim y5; wherein said closing means further include spring means cooperating with each of said clamping means to normally maintain the latter in closed position.

7. Machine for winding a wire and like tie' means about a relatively rigid object, particularly for wrapping a container according to claim 4; including means mounting each of said clamping means for displacement in the direction of travel of said wire from said supply source towards said container.

8. Machine for winding a wire and like tie means about a relatively rigid object, particularly for wrapping a container according to claim 7; wherein resilient means cooperate with each of said clamping means.

9. Machine for winding a wire and like tie means about a relatively rigid object, particularly for wrapping a container according to claim 8; including a stop member arranged between two adjacent clamping means, said resilient means being a spring member having one end attached to `said stop member and the other end to a confronting clamping means.

10. Machine for winding a wire and like tie means about a relatively rigid object, particularly for wrapping a container according to claim 4; wherein said clamping means are angularly arranged in a circle in spaced relation from one another and are provided with efr'ective clamping portions which dene an imaginary circle of revolution.

11. Machine for winding a wire and like tie means about a relatively rigid object, particularly for wrapping a container according to claim 10; wherein each effective clamping portion of said clamping means is provided with wire impact plate means.

12. Machine for winding a wire and like tie means about a relatively rigid object, particularly for wrapping a container according to claim 11; wherein the diameter of said imaginary circle of revolution is smaller than the effective diameter of 4said drive member, the ratio of the diameter of said drive member to that of said imaginary circle of revolution being so selected as to ensure for a given period of time a predetermined diierence between the travel of said drive member on said endless transport member and around said container and the length of wire as measured in its untensioned state Wound about said container as said winding means travels about said container, so that said wire will be applied to said container under predetermined tension.

13. Machine for winding a wire and like tie means about a relatively rigid object, particularly for wrapping a container according to claim 12; including exchangeable support means underlying said impact plate means, to vary the diameter of said imaginary circle of revolution and therewith said predetermined tension.

14. Machine for winding a wire and like tie means about a relatively rigid object, particularly for wrapping a container according to claim 3; including height-adjusting means connected with said winding means to control the spacing between the wound coils of wire.

15. Machine for winding a Wire and like tie means about a relatively rigid object, particularly for wrapping a container according to claim 3; wherein said winding means includes means operatively connected with each clamping means for limiting the Wire tension from eX- ceeding a desired maximum value.

16. Machine for winding a wire and like tie means about a relatively rigid object, particularly for wrapping a container according to claim 15; wherein said wire tension limiting means includes a cylinder and piston arrangement operably associated with each clamping means.

17. Apparatus for wrapping a wire about a container, comprising a wheeled chassis, drive means for rotating Vsaid wheeled chassis about said container, a supply source for said wire, winding means for winding said wire from said supply source about said container, said drive means including an endless transport member adapted to extend about said container and a drive member engageable with said endless transport member to displace said winding means about said container, said winding means including a plurality of independently operable clamping means having effective clamping portions for engaging said wire at spaced locations, said effective clamping portions during rotation thereof dening an imaginary circle of revolution possessing a diameter which is smaller than the effective diameter of said drive member, the ratio of the diameter of said drive member to that of said imaginary circle of revolution being so chosen as to ensure for a given period of time a predetermined diierence between the travel of said drive member on said endless transport member and around said container and the length of wire as measured in its untensioned state wound about said container as said winding means travels about said container, whereby said wire will be applied to said container under predetermined tension, control means operable with said clamping means, said control means including means for periodically opening and means for periodically closing said clamping means as said wire passes said winding means for winding onto said container, and means operatively connected to said winding means for height adjustment of the latter relative to said container to control the spacing between the coils of said wire wound about said container.

18. Apparatus for wrapping a Wire about a container according to claim 17; wherein said drive member is a rotatably mounted sprocket wheel, said clamping jaws being displaceably mounted to said sprocket wheel for movement relative thereto in a normal direction of travel of said wire, whenever said predetermined tension is exceeded.

19. A method of winding a Wire and similar tie means about a container, comprising the steps of: securing the leading end of a iinite length of wire to a container, winding said wire about said container while applying a predetermined tension to said wire, periodically clamping said wire at a plurality of spaced locations as such wire moves past an initial point of clamping, and releasing said thus clamped wire as said wire moves past a point of release of said clamping and prior to winding onto said container, to thereby incrementally increase the tension in the length of wire between said clamp and release points, approximately up to the desired tension with which the Wire is to be wound onto said container.

20. A method of winding a wire and the like about a container, comprising the steps of: securing the leading Wire end of a supply of wire supported on a winding apparatus to the container to be wound with such wire,

displacing said winding apparatus to move about said container in order to continuously draw-off said wire from said wire supply, controlling the length of the displacement path of said winding apparatus about said container relative to the length of wire drawn-0E of said cable supply and applied to said container, such that said length of wire applied to said container as measured in its untensioned state is less than the displaced path of said winding apparatus, to thereby apply a predetermined tension to said wire being wound about said container,

periodically clamping said wire at a first location as it moves towards said container, and periodically unclamping said wire at a second location forwardly of said iirst location and in the direction of travel of said wire onto said container, whereby the tension in the length of wire disposed between said first and second locations is gradually increased, to approach said predetermined tension with which said wire is to be wound onto said container.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,017,459 10/ 1935 Howe et al. 2,033,816 3/ 1936 Carnac 226--173 X 2,711,291 6/ 1955 Kennedy 242-7 2,785,866 3/ 1957 Vogt 242-7 MERVIN STEIN, Primary Examiner.

B. S. TAYLOR, Assistant Examiner. 

1. MACHINE FOR WINDING A WIRE ABOUT A CONTAINER, COMPRISING A SUPPLY SOURCE FOR SAID WIRE, WINDING MEANS FOR WINDING SAID WIRE FROM SAID SUPPLY SOURCE ABOUT SAID CONTAINER, DRIVE MEANS COOPERATING WITH SAID WINDING MEANS INCLUDING AN ENDLESS TRANSPORT MEMBER ADAPTED TO EXTEND ABOUT SAID CONTAINER AND A DRIVE MEMBER ADAPTED TO EXTEND SAID ENDLESS TRANSPORT MEMBER TO DISPLACE SAID WINDING MEANS ABOUT SAID CONTAINER, SAID WINDING MEANS INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF INDEPENDENTLY OPERABLE CLAMPING MEANS FOR ENGAGING SAID WIRE AT SPACED LOCATIONS, CONTROL MEANS OPERABLE WITH SAID CLAMPING MEANS INCLUDING MEANS FOR PERIODICALLY OPENING AND MEANS FOR PERIODICALLY CLOSING 